Family, Humor, Pets, Travel

Thank You, Alabama Rooster-Destin 2018 Pt. 1

Kari

 

Before I start our story, we need to address the traffic on the way to Florida by me telling you this: don’t drive to Florida. Seriously. If you are even thinking about it, stop. Stop it right now. Because this is what awaits you:

Don't Drive to Florida-Traffic in Alabama

Lots and lots of that.

To be clear, I live in the Chicago area and I experience traffic on the regular. It’s part of our culture. In fact, when referring to how far away something is, we commonly refer to how long IN TRAFFIC it will take. Oh Skokie? Yeah, it’s about a 45-minute drive, but with traffic? An hour.

I am no newbie when it comes to vehicular congestion, but the traffic we experienced on the way to Florida was beyond my expectations. In the worst possible way.

After a year of killer flu, toxic news, and weather of epic proportions, people were ready to get THE HELL out of the northern regions of the United States. It felt like everyone was heading south at once. Like they were giving something away down there.

OH MY GOD. WERE THEY GIVING AWAY SOMETHING IN THE SOUTH?

I was already on edge because of how our spring break started. Let me back up.

This was day one:

Don't Drive to Florida- Pediatrician office

A hacking cough that started the night before we were to leave, a day early because of 8 inches of snow we had to bypass.

I need to tell you that the last time we traveled out of state in January, I felt like I might be coming down with something, but I powered through because we were heading to a dear framily member’s funeral. After turning around the next day and heading home because I got worse, it was discovered I had Type A influenza. So now, when I hear a cough the night before we leave, I have PTSD.

The morning we were supposed to leave, I took Ellie to the pediatrician to see what we were dealing with. Turns out she had a minor upper respiratory thing and we were cleared to go to Florida.

But as I was sitting there waiting for Ella’s strep test results, my phone rang. I normally wouldn’t answer and would let it go to voicemail, but it was a local number and I wanted to be safe.

It was the kennel.

Drawing of Buddy by Rebecca (done while we were in Florida)

We’ve been lucky enough to never kennel our Buddy in his almost two years of life. Last spring break my mom and dad watched him, and last summer our framily member Jake stayed at our home with him.

Long story short, my parents couldn’t this time because of health issues with their sweet dog Dolly, and Jake was already committed elsewhere. So the kennel it was.

But the entire month of March I had major anxiety about it. After researching it with more intensity than I did the girls’ preschool, I found a place with great reviews.

The week before, we made the mistake of visiting. When I saw the cold hard floors and narrow runs, I had to excuse myself. People do this all the time, I told myself. Pull it together, Kari. I need to be calm for him or he’ll sense my impending doom.

It was decided Mike would do the drop-off because I would be a mess.

So there I am at the pediatrician, mildly panicking about our possible canceled spring break, when the phone rings again.

Umm yes, we have Buddy here but he won’t let anyone touch him. His fur is up and he is showing his teeth.

Oh no.

Buddy isn’t a mean dog. He goes to the dog park, he’s social, we have people in and out of our house all the time. But he’s always with us when that happens.

Mike headed back to the kennel, and I scrambled to find an alternative.

Thank goodness for family and framily. Between my mom and dad, and my dear friends Rebecca and Dawn, we ended up with three shifts a day of people coming by to let Buddy out, feed him, and keep him company.

My dad played music for him while snuggling and reading the news online. Rebecca made sure music was on throughout the house so he wouldn’t feel alone. Dawn fed him by hand because he had a little doggie depression and wasn’t eating at first.

These people saved my dog and my sanity, and I am endlessly grateful.

We finally got on the road and were about an hour in when Ellie’s cough got worse and we started questioning everything. The doctor said it was fine to go, but didn’t give us much guidance for managing it.

Mike knew a Walgreens just up the road from his old work territory. There’s one at the next exit, he said. We’ll get cough medicine so she can rest.

We pulled off the exit… and that’s when Mike started laughing. Maniacal laughing.

If you need a Walgreens in Matteson Illinois, you’re fu#$ed

At this point, I seriously wanted to go home.

WHAT THE ACTUAL FUDGY BAR UNIVERSE?

But when things get ugly, Mike and I play a game called it could be shittier.

Buddy is safe. Ellie doesn’t have strep or the flu. We have GPS. It’s sunny. And we’re going to Florida. So shut the hell up.

We made it to Huntsville, Alabama at 11 that night and woke up early to get back on the road.

We were excited. Sweatshirts instead of winter coats. Things were looking up.

Destin in six hours.

Traffic. And lots of it.

At that point, we realized this wasn’t just traffic. It was the North invading the South.

We stopped at a McDonald’s that was also a gas station because the first one was completely inaccessible due to the same situation.

While Mike went inside and pumped gas, we started hearing a strange sound outside the car.

Music? No.

Singing? No.

Roosters.

Roosters who were not enjoying the traffic situation at all.

COCKA DOODLE DOOOOOOO.

COCKA DOODLE DOOOOOOO.

The girls and I lost it.

And for the first time in the trip, I actually smiled and felt present in it.

Thank you, Alabama rooster.

Stay tuned for part two…

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22 thoughts on “Thank You, Alabama Rooster-Destin 2018 Pt. 1”

  1. O.M.G. I love your family. I almost want to do spring break with you.

    Trust me, I know about the anxiety and the fur babies. The main reason we don’t go on vacation is that we don’t have anyone to be with our kitties 24/7! Especially our old guy – he is high needs and has medications that have to be administered twice/day. You are so lucky that you had a crew coming several times a day to take care of Buddy.

    See you in a few hours! Guess that means I’d better get in the shower and stop being lazy. ;-)

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  3. You crack me up. I spent spring break finishing a kitchen renovation and getting house ready to sell. Kind of a toss up as to which would be worse: that or invasion traffic. But your story is way funnier than mine. :-) Looking forward to the next installment.

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  4. Be careful now…you’re talking about the good ole state of Alabama…my home sweet home LOL. I’m glad you’re able to get away on a vacation, leave all that cold weather & snow behind. You’re going to be peeling away more layers of clothes the deeper you get into the south. I’m not surprised to hear about the traffic. Are you going I-65?
    I’m sorry Buddy didn’t adjust well to the vet. Our cat was mad at us for 2 days for sending him there.

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    1. 65 was awful but it’s awful in the Midwest too. Honestly, we loved Alabama the farther south we got. With each mile, we were peeling away the crummy weather and it was getting GREEN! Also, have you ever been to Daphne/Fairhope area? I felt like I was in Heaven. Just beautiful.

      Aww poor kitty! Buddy was a little disgusted at us for leaving him the first day home but he got over it real quick. :)

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      1. Oh my, I know 65 was terrible! Oh yes, I have been to Daphne & Fairhope…they are lovely towns. So scenic. Hope you enjoy your time & can relax. It always took us 2 days to relax and realize, we’re on vacation! We’re in Florida!But it goes by so fast & then it’s time to go home.

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  5. Aww, there’s nothing worse than starting out a trip on a somewhat ominous note(s) but I have a good feeling this will be the worst of it. (Stop laughing).

    Poor pup. Maybe an occasional visit for a “spa day” would help him adjust should you not be able to line up those great people to rotate in the future? I get it though, they’re our babies! Thank goodness you weren’t halfway there when they called!

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  6. I have had this pulled up on my computer ever since it first published. FINALLY I get to read it. HAHAHAHAHA. You are a joy to read. How did Buddy do on your return? Framily is the BEST. Hmm, ya know…you could bring Buddy. My sister always stays at hotels that allow pets. I’ve been known to snuggle our puppy in a hotel room in an emergency pinch. SHHHHHHH

    And in other news…I just sent the BIG box of papers this morning. :)

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    1. So we wanted to bring him but every place we wanted to stay was NO DOGS ALLOWEEDDDD. Side note- there is a Snoopy movie where they say that over and over, and that just rang in my ears.

      Where was I?

      Yes! He did great but was a little nervous the first few days back. Now he’s back to his title of baby of the family/king of the castle.

      I AM SAYING BIG PRAYERS FOR YOUR FAMILY!!!

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  8. Oh boy! That is quite a start to the trip. LOL. Reminds me of why we like to vacation in the off season. ;) Can’t wait to read part 2!

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  9. That’s definitely quite a start to the trip! We drove to Florida only once when I was a kid. I can relate to getting sick on vacation. It’s happened to me before and being the hypochondriac that I am, I worry before every vacation now! Thanks for linking up to Take Me Away this month!
    Shelley

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